From high school basement rehearsals to two Grammy nominations
In short: Before they were charting on the Billboard 200, the members of August Burns Red were practicing in a drummer's basement on a Pennsylvania farm. Discover how this metalcore outfit transformed from a group of high school students into a global touring force.
Formed in March 2003 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, August Burns Red began as a high school project. Their earliest rehearsals took place in the basement of Matt Greiner's family farm. While the band's lineup has seen some early shifts—including the departure of original vocalist Jon Hershey and bassist Jordan Tuscan in 2006—the core unit of Brubaker, Rambler, Greiner, Luhrs, and Davidson has remained remarkably stable since 2006. The band's early years were marked by transitions, such as when Josh McManness stepped in to sing after Hershey left. This era also saw the addition of Dustin Davidson, who joined the group as a friend of the band.
The band's ascent was marked by significant commercial milestones and critical recognition. Their 2007 album, Messengers, became a breakthrough, hitting number one on the Top Christian albums chart and reaching number 8/81 on the Billboard 200. They achieved even greater chart success with Rescue & Restore, which debuted at number 9, and Found in Far Away Places, which also reached number 9 and topped the US Hard Rock and US Top Rock charts. Their versatility is evident in their discography, which includes everything from the holiday-themed Sleddin' Hill to heavy covers of Britney Spears. They have even explored instrumental arrangements for several of their major studio releases.
The group's technical prowess earned them two Grammy Award nominations for Best Metal Performance: first in 2016 for the track "Identity" and again in 2018 for "Invisible Enemy." Over two decades, they have evolved from releasing EPs like 2004's Looks Fragile After All to releasing tenth studio album, Death Below, in 2023. Even as they move toward their eleventh studio album, the band continues to honor their roots, recently announcing a re-recorded 20th-anniversary edition of their 2005 debut, Thrill Seeker. The band's recent work continues to feature notable collaborators, including Jesse Leach and Spencer Chamberlain. They also recently expanded their reach by launching their own independent label, ABR Records.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: August Burns Red
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